Generic ink cartridges vs. refillable ink?

Hello there,

I’ve been wondering lately whether there is any way to track down some ink—whether we are talking about the official stuff, high-quality third-party replacements, or even just bulk ink for refilling—specifically designed for HP printers.
The exact models I am looking at are these:
http://www.amazon.de/Druckerpatronen...XI/ref=lh_ni_t
or perhaps
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/HP+-+...7250&cp=1&lp=3

So, specifically regarding these HP printers:
Compatibility: HP Printers: 5100 All-in-One 5300 All-in-One 5500
ESP 3/ ESP 5/ ESP 7/ ESP 9/ ESP 3250/ ESP 5210/ ESP 5220/ ESP 5230/ ESP 5250/ ESP 6150/ ESP 7250/ ESP 9250 All-in-One

Does anyone know if there is a reliable way to pick up this ink here in the States? I am genuinely open to anything, be it budget-friendly compatible cartridges or even a kit to refill the existing ones myself.

Carl Sullivan22 said:Hey guys,

I was wondering if anyone knows where I can find original ink, generic brands, or even refill kits for HP printers.
I'm looking for this:
http://www.amazon.de/Druckerpatronen...XI/ref=lh_ni_t
or maybe
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/HP+-+...7250&cp=1&lp=3

Specifically for HP printers:
Compatibility: HP Printers: 5100 All-in-One 5300 All-in-One 5500
ESP 3/ ESP 5/ ESP 7/ ESP 9/ ESP 3250/ ESP 5210/ ESP 5220/ ESP 5230/ ESP 5250/ ESP 6150/ ESP 7250/ ESP 9250 All-in-One

Is there any way to pick up some ink here in the States? Like generics or something I can use to refill them?

The ink itself isn't the issue. You can find ink for any inkjet printer without much trouble.

The real problem is that it's kind of a lost cause. Basically, HP has moved on from this market entirely. They're pulling out.

Why on earth would anyone call it a wasted investment? From a user's perspective, it really boils down to one simple binary: either the machine functions or it doesn't. If it stops working, you naturally attempt to troubleshoot and fix the issue, but if the repairs prove to be impossible, then we arrive at that universal truth applicable to almost any piece of hardware—it simply isn't worth the cost of repair, so you might as well just go out and buy a brand-new unit instead...
But honestly, that's beside the point. Just tell me what the actual replacement cost for that specific printer would be, and let's leave it at that.

Carl Sullivan22 said:Why call it a bad investment? From a user's perspective, it’s simple: it either works or it doesn't. If it breaks, you try to fix it, but if it's beyond repair, it’s like any other printer—you just buy a new one instead of wasting money on repairs...
It's not about that. Just tell me how much that printer would actually cost, okay?

You're paying for premium ink here, meaning the top-tier stuff that actually works. 50 ml per color equals $23 per color.

I just doubt there's enough ink. If you're saying it uses some kind of chip, and probably an RF chip like HP since they follow the same lazy design school, you can bet on that.

Now hopefully you see why this is a dead end. Kodak basically killed its own future by doing it this way. Take Brother, for example—they're smarter. They have cartridges without chips. It's obvious Kodak messed up from the jump because they were being greedy. By slamming the door on refills, they pretty much sealed their fate.

That's why investing in this printer is a total joke. That's probably why you see them on clearance for pennies...

Which is exactly why you're asking the question in the first place.

Look, if you actually want to make a profit and print high-quality color cheaply, stick to Epson + Colibri replacement cartridges + Magnetic or Colibri or Premium KMP ink for refills. Don't go looking for trouble.